Eat in or Dine Out?

I think of Thanksgiving as the major food holiday of the year for us.  This year was no different, and I put out a simple but abundant spread.  There were just four of us but we had appetizers of figs wrapped in goat cheese as well as a lovely cheese log, both supplied by our guests.  They also showed up with wine and beer.

My meal started with a spinach and arugula salad topped with orange wedges, pomegranate, goat cheese and a light lemon/raspberry vinaigrette.  We koshered and roasted an 11 pound bird, which I made a wheat and grain-based stuffing for.  Mashed potatoes were an additional side along with a choice of both honey glazed carrots and green beans with almonds.  The whole thing was augmented with fresh cranberry sauce and home-made buttermilk biscuits.  We enjoyed pies for dessert.

I've read articles and posts suggesting that if your party is small, it can make sense to dine out, but that's not something we want to do.  I believe my entire effort cost under thirty bucks.  That is less than what two of us would spend to buy the meal prepared by a chef.  We fed four people and had plenty of left-overs to make other meals.

The most expensive part of a meal out, is alcohol.  We enjoyed champagne, beer, an imported red wine, and a white Meritage.  In addition to the meal, our wine and beer contribution probably set us back twenty bucks.  In a restaurant, it would easily add eighty bucks on to our bill.  Our guests bought some too.

It is, of course, a lot easier now that I am not working.  A holiday meal is still a big effort, but not unmanageable if you've been doing it for over 30 years.   Besides, it's nice to be able to pull out your chair, roll back on to the couch, and watch a good football game.  Go Bills!!!